England’s Weekly Winners and losers: Week 8

Ahead of the international break which English players had a good week?

Winners

Ross Barkley

Barkley celebrated his England recall with the best performance of his Chelsea career. First he provided a defence splitting for Eden Hazard’s opener and then reacted quickest to a loose ball to grab his first goal of the season. It was Barkley’s first start in six league games and gives Mauricio Sari a selection dilemma when Manchester United visit Stamford Bridge next.

Barkley excelled at St Marys.

Glenn Murray

He’s too slow and too old to get an England call but Murray is now the best uncapped English striker of the Premier League era, taking his season tally to 5 after notching 12 last season. His close range finish was hardly the most aesthetically pleasing goal you’ll see but it was enough to grab 3 valuable points for Brighton.

Emile Smith-Rowe

After making his senior debut in the League Cup Smith-Rowe marked his European debut with a goal. Smith-Rowe’s neat finish capped an impressive performance and although he wasn’t in Arsenal’s 18 man squad against his future looks bright. It seems likely Aaron Ramsey will leave in January and the promising young attacking midfielder could find himself getting plenty of games down the stretch as a consequence.

Harry Winks

Easily the best player on the pitch as Tottenham steered their way past Cardiff. Winks pushed forward with his neat passing, linking Tottenham’s play throughout. It’s been a tough 12 months for Winks whose struggled with ankle problems but is slowly getting back to his best and looks set to win his second cap this week.

Eric Dier

He’s taken some brickbats this season, so let’s give him some credit for notching the only goal against Cardiff. Dier has his faults but Tottenham were notably better against Barcelona when he replaced the hapless Victor Wanyama, his place in Tottenham’s first 11 looks secure.

Losers

Joe Ralls

The reducer! Whilst Neil Warnock took aim for Harry Kane’s reaction to Ralls assault on Lucas Moura, it’s hard to justify the Tekken move Ralls tried- I was half expcting a fire-ball to come out of his leg! The only way Ralls will be playing again at Wembley will be if Cardiff make the 2020 Playoff Final.

Nor a red card, according to Neil Warnock

Alex Bettinelli

Conceding 5 isn’t exactly the ideal preparation for a week away with England. Bettinelli wasn’t helped by a hapless defence who were simply overrun by Arsenal, but was beaten at his near post for the second goal and stood mesmerised for the third and shold have stopped the fourth.

Marcus Rashford

Manchester United were abysmal for 70 minutes against Newcastle, Rashford went off after 67 minutes. For all United’s woes Rashford missed two clear-cut chances from headers before departing without even a glance from his manager. For the second international break in a row, Rashford arrives at St Georges Park with his club future in the balance.